Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Abdulaziz K. Assaifan
Summary: Transistors are essential components in consumer electronics and the demand for cost-effective production methods has led to consideration of techniques like flexographic printing. The advantages of this printing technique and its contributions to transistor fabrication are discussed in detail, along with the challenges of implementing it in industry.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Francesco Borsoi, Grzegorz P. Mazur, Nick van Loo, Leo Bourdet, Kongyi Li, Svetlana Korneychuk, Alexandra Fursina, Ji-Yin Wang, Vukan Levajac, Elvedin Memisevic, Ghada Badawy, Sasa Gazibegovic, Kevin van Hoogdalem, Erik P. A. M. Bakkers, Leo P. Kouwenhoven, Sebastian Heedt, Marina Quintero-Perez, Michal P. Nowak
Summary: This study introduces a novel fabrication concept based on shadow walls, enabling in situ, selective, and consecutive depositions of superconductors and normal metals to form defect-free semiconducting-superconducting interfaces. The method allows for the realization of devices in a single shot, eliminating fabrication steps after the synthesis of the fragile semiconductor/superconductor interface. The cleanliness of the technique enables systematic studies of topological superconductivity in nanowires and the synthesis of advanced nano-devices based on a wide range of material combinations and geometries while maintaining high interface quality.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Pauline Brumm, Anna Fritschen, Lara Doss, Edgar Doersam, Andreas Blaeser
Summary: This research introduces a new biofabrication method based on the viscous fingering phenomenon, which can efficiently manufacture highly branched and interconnected channel structures. The method offers adjustable printing parameters and hydrogel formulations for fabricating channels that mimic the morphology of small blood vessels and capillaries. The fabricated networks demonstrate excellent perfusability and hold great potential for nutrient supply in thick vascularized tissues or organ-on-a-chip systems.
BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Nuha Al Habis, Muna Khushaim, Saja M. M. Nabat Al-Ajrash
Summary: Smart and mechanically flexible energy harvesting/storage devices have gained significant attention in growing markets such as electronics, automobiles, medicine, and aerospace. However, current devices face challenges in terms of installation on curved surfaces, high manufacturing costs, and limited production rates. Therefore, new design strategies involving new materials, cost-effectiveness, and scalability are necessary to meet the demands of these markets. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of flexographic printing for energy devices by discussing its advantages over existing printing technologies and summarizing its application in solar cell and battery construction.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Marta Gajadhur, Paulina Chmura
Summary: This research investigates the illumination time of four luminescent pigments (green, blue, violet, and orange) used in security printing and special effect covers. It examines the printout preparation on paper bases with and without optical brighteners, using different pigment concentrations and inks. The study presents mathematical models to help adjust ink layer thickness and pigment concentration for desired glow time.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yang Goh, Samantha Lauro, Steven T. Barber, Scott A. Williams, Thomas A. Trabold
Summary: Research has focused on developing sustainable black flexographic inks by replacing carbon black with biochar derived from recycled and renewable resources, achieving good black density in prints.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jian Dong, Yuanyuan Zhu, Zhifu Liu, Meng Wang
Summary: Liquid metal as a conductive fluid has shown important application value in wearable devices, 3D printing, reconfigurable antennas, and other fields.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kiran Singh Sharma
Summary: 5D and 4D printings are advanced versions of 3D printing that utilize precise additive manufacturing technology to prepare innovative structures and substances. These methods have the potential to produce flexible designs and high-complexity products with the assistance of AI. The incorporation of smart materials and rotation of extruder and print bed enable time-saving and the ability to print in 5 different axes.
CURRENT DRUG DELIVERY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kouji Suemori, Taiki Nobeshima, Sei Uemura, Nobuko Fukuda
Summary: Polymer-based thermoelectric devices fabricated by solvent-free printing technique exhibit improved performance compared to conventional solution processes, with significantly higher electric power output. This novel approach opens up possibilities for various applications of polymer-based TEDs, such as wearable power sources converting body heat into electricity.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Win Jonhson, Xi Xu, Danwei Zhang, Wei Ting Chua, Yong Hao Tan, Ximeng Liu, Cao Guan, Xuan Hao Tan, Yuemeng Li, Tun Seng Herng, James Cho-Hong Goh, John Wang, Hui He, Jun Ding
Summary: This paper introduces the fabrication process of the first fully 3D-printed ceramic core structures for portable solar desalination devices to tackle water scarcity. Utilizing robocasting, a flexible 3D printing technique, the device is able to provide uniform water transport delivery and thermal insulation. The portable device has shown excellent ion rejection ability and meets WHO drinking water standards.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Nasiruddin Macadam, Leonard W. T. Ng, Guohua Hu, HaoTian H. Shi, Wenyu Wang, Xiaoxi Zhu, Osarenkhoe Ogbeide, Shouhu Liu, Zongyin Yang, Richard C. T. Howe, Chris Jones, Yan Yan Shery Huang, Tawfique Hasan
Summary: The incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets (GPs) into conductive flexographic ink improves sheet-resistance and uniformity, as well as adhesion on paper and PET substrates. The GP-enhanced samples exhibit robust durability under 1000 cyclic bend-test, showing a minimal average variation in resistance. Statistically scalable results show that GP-incorporation offers a cost-performance advantage for flexographic printing of large-area conductive patterns.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Wei Liu, Zhicheng Wen, Sizhen Chen, Chunqing Wang, Rong An, Wei Zhang, Xinming Wang, Junjie Wang, Yanhong Tian
Summary: In this work, intrinsic and p-type ZnO nanowires were successfully synthesized and used to fabricate strain sensors and homogenous p-n junction ZnO devices. The nanowires were grown using different methods and exhibited good rectification characteristics, but electroluminescence was difficult to achieve due to low carrier concentration in the ZnO single crystal.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
R. S. Bhagya, Dhanya Sunil, Kashmitha Muthamma, Prakasha Shetty, Suresh D. Kulkarni
Summary: This study synthesized a pyrene-based pigment with mechanochromism feature and used it in security inks. The printed papers were invisible under day light and displayed green fluorescence under UV light, making it suitable for security printing. Additionally, an ink-less rewritable paper with practical applications was developed.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andres Jenaro Lopez Garcia, Giuliano Sico, Maria Montanino, Viktor Defoor, Manojit Pusty, Xavier Mescot, Fausta Loffredo, Fulvia Villani, Giuseppe Nenna, Gustavo Ardila
Summary: Zinc oxide nanowires are promising for various devices, and printing techniques offer advantages such as low cost and high quality results. Gravure printing is an effective method for depositing ZnO seed layers on flexible substrates, enabling the fabrication of flexible piezoelectric transducers with ZnO nanowires.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuhao Wang, Fangting Chen, Wenyu Song, Zuhan Geng, Zehao Yu, Lining Yang, Yichun Gao, Ruidong Li, Shuai Yang, Wentao Miao, Wei Xu, Zhaoyu Wang, Zezhou Xia, Hua-Ding Song, Xiao Feng, Tiantian Wang, Yunyi Zang, Lin Li, Runan Shang, Qikun Xue, Ke He, Hao Zhang
Summary: Reducing disorder and achieving ballistic transport are crucial in Majorana nanowire experiments. In this study, ballistic PbTe nanowire devices were grown using the selective-area-growth technique, and quantized conductance plateaus were observed at zero magnetic field. This advancement in diminishing disorder within nanowires addresses the concern of valley degeneracy and may enable the search for clean signatures of the spin-orbit helical gap in future devices.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lingling Zhai, Xiaojie She, Lyuchao Zhuang, Yanyong Li, Ran Ding, Xuyun Guo, Yongqi Zhang, Ye Zhu, Kun Xu, Hong Jin Fan, Shu Ping Lau
Summary: The correlation between work function and built-in electric field (BEF) is crucial for understanding the intrinsic reaction mechanism of metal-support electro-catalysts. In this study, a Pt@CoOx electrocatalyst with a large work function difference and strong BEF was presented, showing outstanding hydrogen evolution activity in a neutral medium. The experimental and theoretical results confirmed the interfacial charge redistribution induced by the strong BEF, which optimized the adsorption energy of hydrogen and hydroxide. This work provides new insights into the neutral hydrogen evolution mechanism and proposes new design principles for efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen production in neutral medium.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Songhua Cai, Jun Dai, Zhipeng Shao, Mathias Uller Rothmann, Yinglu Jia, Caiyun Gao, Mingwei Hao, Shuping Pang, Peng Wang, Shu Ping Lau, Kai Zhu, Joseph J. Berry, Laura M. Herz, Xiao Cheng Zeng, Yuanyuan Zhou
Summary: This study resolves the atomic-scale structural information on three prototypical intragrain interfaces using scanning transmission electron microscopy and establishes models for the calculation of electronic properties. The results show that these intragrain interfaces are generally electronically benign, but their interaction with point defects can have detrimental effects. This research contributes to a better understanding of the microscopic structure-property-performance relationship in metal halide perovskites.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yan Shao, Wei Gao, Hejin Yan, Runlai Li, Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Xiao Chi, Lukas Rogee, Lyuchao Zhuang, Wei Fu, Shu Ping Lau, Siu Fung Yu, Yongqing Cai, Kian Ping Loh, Kai Leng
Summary: In this study, the surface octahedral tilt of exfoliated 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites (RPPs) was directly observed using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), which was found to agree with theoretical calculations. The surface-enhanced octahedral tilt is correlated to excitonic redshift observed in photoluminescence (PL) and enhances inversion asymmetry and Rashba spin splitting.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yanyong Li, Songhua Cai, Wai Kin Lai, Chenhao Wang, Lukas Rogee, Lyuchao Zhuang, Lingling Zhai, Shenghuang Lin, Mingjie Li, Shu Ping Lau
Summary: This study investigates the evolution of photoluminescence mechanism in synthesized violet phosphorus crystals under Ar+ plasma exposure, focusing on the transition from trion to exciton emission. It reveals the impact of Ar+ plasma treatment on the optical properties of violet phosphorus and proposes a conversion mechanism from trion to exciton emissions.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Pin Tian, Libin Tang, Jinzhong Xiang, Shu Ping Lau, Shouzhang Yuan, Dengquan Yang, Lain-Jong Li, Kar Seng Teng
Summary: The study developed an easy method for liquid-phase catalytic growth of graphene, that can transform graphene quantum dots into graphene films at room temperature. This method has advantages of environmental-friendliness, high yields, low cost, and a wide choice of substrates. The bandgap of the graphene films can be tuned by post-annealing.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Lei Wang, Ziyu Huang, Xiaohui Yang, Lukas Rogee, Xiaowen Huang, Xuming Zhang, Shu Ping Lau
Summary: With the development of modern industry, four interrelated issues have become increasingly prominent: environmental pollution, the energy crisis, the greenhouse effect, and the global food crisis. Photocatalysis is a promising method to address these challenges, and the use of photocatalytic optofluidic microreactors could further enhance efficiency and utilization of solar energy. These microreactors offer advantages such as a large surface-to-volume ratio, short molecular diffusion length, and high reaction efficiency, making them a potential solution for mitigating these crises. This paper provides a comprehensive review of microreactor designs and developments in the fields of water purification, water splitting, CO2 fixation, and coenzyme regeneration in recent years. As the most promising tool for solar energy utilization, the increasing innovation in photocatalytic optofluidic microreactors is expected to drive rapid development in related fields in the future.
REVIEWS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lukas Rogee, Lvjin Wang, Yi Zhang, Songhua Cai, Peng Wang, Manish Chhowalla, Wei Ji, Shu Ping Lau
Summary: We have successfully demonstrated unexpected out-of-plane ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties in MoS2/WS2 heterobilayers, which can be utilized in ultrathin ferro- and piezoelectronic devices.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lyuchao Zhuang, Qi Wei, Chuanzhao Li, Hui Ren, Yanyong Li, Fangyi Shi, Lingling Zhai, Kai Leng, Mingjie Li, Shu Ping Lau
Summary: Quasi-2D perovskites have gained significant attention in light-emitting diodes due to their adjustable energy landscape, efficient luminescence, and structural diversity. However, the excessive formation of low-n (n <= 2) phases leads to lower carrier injection efficiency and inefficient energy transfer caused by undesirable phases distribution. In this study, a polar anti-solvent is used to tailor phases distribution through strong hydrogen bonding, resulting in the preferential growth of large-n phases and enhanced energy transfer. Leveraging these insights, efficient sky-blue and green perovskite light-emitting diodes with improved external quantum efficiency ranging from 4.21% to 8.77% are developed. The anti-solvent treatment can provide a new approach to regulate phase distribution for an efficient energy funnel effect.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fangyuan Zheng, Deping Guo, Lingli Huang, Lok Wing Wong, Xin Chen, Cong Wang, Yuan Cai, Ning Wang, Chun-Sing Lee, Shu Ping Lau, Thuc Hue Ly, Wei Ji, Jiong Zhao
Summary: Researchers have discovered that phase transitions can be triggered in 2D materials using a focused electron beam, offering a new method for phase patterning in nanoscale devices and ultra-large-scale integrations. The mechanism behind the phase transition involves strain and the creation of atomic vacancies. This technique opens the door for grain boundary engineering and electrical contact engineering. It has the potential to be used in the manufacturing of atomic-scale devices in the future.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiewei Chen, Ting Zhang, Jingli Wang, Lin Xu, Ziyuan Lin, Jidong Liu, Cong Wang, Ning Zhang, Shu Ping Lau, Wenjing Zhang, Manish Chhowalla, Yang Chai
Summary: This article introduces a low-loss transistor based on topological phase change. By modulating the energy difference of tellurium, the transistor switches between Weyl and conventional phases, enabling low-loss and high-efficiency transport. This study provides a new strategy for achieving ultra-low power electronics.
Article
Optics
Menghan Jia, Fang Wang, Libin Tang, Jinzhong Xiang, Kar Seng Teng, Shu Ping Lau, Yanfei Lu
Summary: UV photodetectors based on metal oxide heterostructures have gained significant interest due to their excellent performance and ease of fabrication. In this study, a UV photodetector consisting of p-NiO/SiO2/n-ZnO heterostructure was prepared by RF magnetron sputtering method, exhibiting remarkable performances such as high rectification ratio, responsivity, and external quantum efficiency at low power consumption.
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fangyi Shi, Lingling Zhai, Qingqing Liu, Jingya Yu, Shu Ping Lau, Bao Yu Xia, Zheng-Long Xu
Summary: This study reviews the latest catalytic materials for practical high-energy lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) and explores the relationship between catalyst design strategies, material structures, and electrochemical performance. The authors also statistically evaluate the state-of-the-art catalyst-modified LSBs to identify the remaining gap between current advancements and real-world requirements. Finally, the authors propose a study on catalytic materials to help realize practical LSBs.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Renzhong Zhuang, Songhua Cai, Zengxia Mei, Huili Liang, Ningjiu Zhao, Haoran Mu, Wenzhi Yu, Yan Jiang, Jian Yuan, Shuping Lau, Shiming Deng, Mingyue Han, Peng Jin, Cailin Wang, Guangyu Zhang, Shenghuang Lin
Summary: In order to reduce radiation health risks, X-ray detectors need to be operated at minimal doses during X-ray security examination or medical inspection, which requires high sensitivity and low detection limits. This study presents the realization of highly sensitive X-ray detectors based on an environmentally friendly solution-grown thick BiI/BiI3/BiI van der Waals heterostructure. These detectors show anisotropic X-ray detection response, with a sensitivity of up to 4.3 x 10(4) μC Gy(-1) cm(-2) and a detection limit as low as 34 nGy s(-1). Additionally, the BixIy detectors demonstrate high environmental and hard radiation stabilities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fangyi Shi, Xuyun Guo, Chunhong Chen, Lyuchao Zhuang, Jingya Yu, Qi Qi, Ye Zhu, Zheng-Long Xu, Shu Ping Lau
Summary: A recent study examines the dynamics of liquid-to-solid sulfur transition and investigates the charging of polysulfides by visually observing the electrochemical generation of sulfur. The study finds a quantitative correlation between the size and number density of liquid sulfur droplets and the applied current, providing insights for designing fast-charging sulfur cathodes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haiyan Jin, Lok Wing Wong, Ka Hei Lai, Xiaodong Zheng, Shu Ping Lau, Qingming Deng, Jiong Zhao
Summary: A simple fabrication method for vacancy-rich IrCo alloy catalysts has been developed by post-annealing single atom dispersed precursors. The resulting catalyst exhibits enhanced activity and stability compared to traditional methods.